Minimalism is a streamlined and organized look that makes you feel calm and relaxed. But don’t worry; a minimalist interior isn’t entirely bare! It still includes beautiful furniture, flooring, window fashions and artwork. Within the idea of minimalism, there are lots of choices of your look too, from beachy vibe to Asian zen to high-style sophisticated.

Some people think the best thing about minimalist décor is that you have to get rid of the clutter! That’s why cabinets, closets and other out-of-sight storage are key. And minimalist décor is easier to clean since there are fewer elements to dust, mop and vacuum.

Minimalist colors are usually muted and monochromatic. White is the most common color for minimalism, but you can also use soft earth tones like beige, taupe, tan and gray. In minimalism, a variation in texture usually takes the place of a variation in color.

Use these tips to create a minimalist style in your home:

Make one element the focal point in a room, then the other pieces can support it.

Have mostly clear surfaces, with very few, well-selected décor items atop tables and floors, such as one sculpture or one vase of flowers or one photo of your family.

Hang a limited number of pieces of artwork on walls. Leave some walls without artwork, and the art you have will stand out even more.

Almost always use solid colors, not patterns. Then use textures to create the visual interest in a room.

Decorate in groups of three for an engaging and sophisticated look.
There’s something about items grouped in threes that make your decor fresh and appealing.
Philosophers, architects and writers have always talked about the magic of the number three. The rule of three states that when objects or ideas are presented in groups of three, they’re more memorable and more appealing. The rule of three applies equally to home decorating, whether it’s furniture, accessories or collections on display – even the number of windows on a wall when you remodel.

Think three for:
• Throw pillows
• Paintings hanging on a wall – aligned vertically or horizontally
• Family photographs sitting on a bureau or table
• Candles displayed on a mantle
• Vases or jars on a coffee table or console
• The number of cushions on your sofa
• Lighting sources in a room
• Even small ottomansTake a look around your home today to find items you can re-arrange to create a collection of three. Arrangements can be formal, with identically sized items that are cleanly aligned. Collections can also be informally arranged, with objects that vary in size and height. Even items as simple as kitchen canisters, coffee table books, small candles and house plants can be arranged in groups of three for a pleasing effect.

Think three for your home accessorizing. It’s a magical way to make your rooms look more sophisticated and complete.

Organizing Is a Never-Ending Story

Earlier this month we talked about de-cluttering after Christmas to start healthy habits for 2015. January is National Get Organized Month and there are multitudes of ways to revamp your home.

Top areas in a home where organizing gets haywire are: office/den, kitchen, closets, master bedroom and the garage/attic/basement. We can help you get organized this year!

Decide where to start– Which area of your life is the most chaotic? Is it your desk? Is it the stack of mail, bills, and reading material that has taken over the dining room? What things are you always looking for? Find the area in your life that is really causing you the greatest stress, and start there.

Be brutal – What really makes sense and what doesn’t? What belongs under the kitchen sink and what belongs in the cleaning or laundry closet?

Go vertical –Look for shelves to maximize your vertical space in cabinets. In a closet add extra rods, hanging bags or drawers for instant space. Move up not out!

Use doors – The backs of your doors are often an underutilized gold mine of storage!

How to De-Clutter after the Holiday Madness
“Clutter is nothing more than postponed decisions.” -Barbara Hemphill

Holidays are over and now it’s time to pack it all away for another 11 months. All that work for just a few weeks of joy. And how did you acquire so much stuff?!

Well, here are some quick and easy ways to de-clutter and store so that next year you aren’t sorting through it all when it’s time to decorate. Also, this will help you in the New Year to keep your home clutter-free with all those new presents to put away.

Keep one, toss two-whether you donate or throw out…this includes white elephant gifts. And by all means, if it is broken-throw it out!

Leftover mailing boxes-pack up donations to reuse them and get them out of the trash and the house.

Sort as you stow-this helps with space saving. Keeping things grouped together makes it easier to stack in the attic or closet-this is also how decorating next year will be a breeze. You won’t be tearing through the 8 places you put the Christmas stuff trying to find the star for the top of the tree. Also pack to move-we often overstuff storage so that it’s difficult to move and put away, which means it can be left behind collecting dust because no one wants to move it.

Re-gifting gifts for next year-wrap and store with decorations…again this also includes white elephant gifts. If you don’t get them ready now, you’ll forget about them and come across them in the middle of summer next year when you could have given them away.

Don’t wait til spring to get rid of what you haven’t used in 6 months-get rid of old toys and clothes now to make room for the newly acquired gifts. Let the kids be involved with it too. You may be surprised how quickly they are willing to give away their toys and clothes once they have new ones.

Make sure you have the proper storage for what you have:

This is critical. Don’t just throw things in random cardboard boxes if they are delicate. We all want to just tear everything down and get it out of our living rooms, but that is how we end up with broken items at the beginning of the next season.

For example, get a storage bag or box for your wreath, divided storage for ornaments, and clear plastic bins (so you can see what is in what bin) that are easy to stack.
This is a great way to start the New Year, with a neat and de-cluttered home to hibernate in for the next few months while winter rages on outside.

If you are looking for a few ideas to keep the momentum going, check back with us throughout the year for more tips. But for now here are 2 tips to keep you going into January:

Trash Bag Tango:

Take two bags, set a timer for 10 minutes and go through the whole house. One bag for trash and recyclables, one bag for things not being used, wanted or needed.

Always finish what you start-whether it’s putting the laundry in the hamper, getting rid of the junk mail once you’ve gone through the mail, put away things after you get them out.

Ottomans add flexibility, function and beauty to almost any room.
Make an ottoman a focal point of a room or use it as a design element that perfectly complements your other home fashions.
Have you ever thought, “I ought to get an ottoman?” That’s a great idea! Ottomans are not just for putting up your tired legs at the end of a long day, although that’s the traditional use.

There’s so much more that ottomans can do in living rooms, home offices, dens or bedrooms:

Hold a tray of drinks and appetizers or coffee and cookies

Add extra seating

Provide a place for an open suitcase in the guestroom

Make a spot to sit at the foot of the bed to put on shoes and socks

Ottomans are so flexible. You can move them around as needed, or push them against a wall or under a table to get them out of the way if you need more space to move around the room.
And ottomans come in such a variety of shapes, sizes, fabrics and styles. Think outside the square or rectangle with an oval or round ottoman. Use fabric that matches your other upholstered furniture or bedding – or select contrasting fabric in an unexpected color or bold print to add an interesting accent. You can even drape a throw, scarf or pashmina over an ottoman to create a design focal point. Worried about dirt from people’s feet or beverage spills? Think about slipcovering your ottoman in washable fabric.

Adding an ottoman to your décor gives you flexibility, function and beauty. And you’ll have fun thinking of all the ways you can use it!

Decluttering before you decorate will make your holidays trimmings pop!

Begin your holiday decorating with a clean start for maximum beauty and minimum chaos.
It’s so much fun to decorate the house for the holidays, but sometimes there’s just too much clutter once all the decorations are put out – so much “stuff” that people can hardly see the beauty of your holiday treasures.

Put away your “everyday” home accessories

Your first step before starting your holiday decorating should be to put away the other home décor items that usually adorn your house – sitting on table tops, mantles and furniture. This includes vases, candles, throw pillows and house plants. You can even store them in the boxes that your holiday decorations usually occupy! A clean start will help you decide where to display your holiday decorations for the most beautiful look and ensure that the decorations are the focal point of your rooms during this festive season.

Get rid of holiday decorations you’ll never use

When you’re getting out your holiday decorations, take the time to purge, purge, purge. Take a close look at the decorations you aren’t going to use this year and honestly evaluate whether you’ll ever use them again. If it’s damaged, get rid of it. If you don’t love it, get rid of it. Think about passing your undamaged discards on to your children or other family members who are just starting their own households. Or donate them to a hospital, nursing home, homeless shelter or other charitable organization that could really use them to add some holiday cheer. After all, this is the season for giving.

Keeping your house clutter-free can be a challenge during the holidays. Try it and your house will look more festive and bright!